Railway switch



A. W. HAGEMAN RAILWAY SWITCH March 2s,v 195o Filed Oct. 26, 1945 v "s sheets-sheet 1 ./7 INVENToR.

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March 28, 1950 A A.' w. HAGEMAN RAILWAY SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed oct. 26. 1945 l INVENToR. J7- yL/Haye m a n BY v Wam-Tl l' (n Fffys.

4|, the arcuate ring segments 42, 43 and the web portion 44 for resting upon the insulated plate I6. A straight rail portion 45 extends upwardly from the web portions, together with an inner frog point 46 and the short rail portions 41, 48 which respectively form parts of the track for right-hand and left-hand turnouts. The rail portions 45 and 4l provide switch points for through and right-hand turnout, respectively. These short rail portions are also connected to the segments 42, 43 to stiffen the assembly. This part 40 is also illustrated as being in one piece, formed by molding a plastic.

Where the switch is constructed for toy trains having large drive gears adjacent the wheels, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 the short rail portions may be cut away at the guard-rail sides, to allow free passage, as shown in the figures.

When made for toy trains, the distance between the tops of the rails and the top oi the plate l should be equal to the height of normal track rails 20, 2|; and hence the intertting of the web portions oi parts 30, 40 permits a minimum total height with a maximum thickness of the web portions. To this end, the slots 35, 36 represent cutting away the webs in part 30, and openings 49 occur through the part 40.

When the parts 30, 40 are fitted together (Fig. 2) the web portions lie in the same plane so that the upper surfaces thereof define the bottoms of grooves provided to receive the wheel ilanges, and the tops of the rail portions likewise lie in a plane and serve to receive the wheel treads.

In the illustrated form, with a central third rail, the third rail 50 at the approach to the switch is extended by a bar which is connected electrically and mechanically by a. post 52 and screw 53- to the insulated plate I6 (Figs. 1 and 2) this bar 5| thus overlying the web 34 of part but terminating short of the path of train wheels which are making either turnout; with lateral insulation 5|s to prevent contact by the metal train wheels or auxiliary electrical equipment as the train is making a turn out. The stubs 54, 55 at the turnouts are extended by bars 56 which curve toward the rails 20, 2| so that their ends are closer in the horizontal plane to the end of bar y5| for decreasing the gap; the bars 56 have their tops curved or beveled downward at the free end to give a smooth sliding surface for the collector brushes; and the bars 58 are connected by similar posts 52 and screws 53 to the plate I6. The stub 5l of the through track likewise is extended by a bar 58 similarly connected by a post 52 Vand screw 53. When the structure is provided for trains having a single collecting brush, or with two brushes spaced a lesser distance than the gap between bars l5| and 58, a metal contact rail portion 60 is carried by the part 40: the part 30 carries at a point outside of wheel tread or ange contact, an insulated connector spring having one arm 6I to engage the bar 60 and a second arm 52 to engage the rail portion 58 when the parts 30, are in position for straight-throug passage of a train, whereby the rail portion 60 is energized, and it will be noted that if either part 30 or 40 is in position for a turnout, the connector spring opens the connection so that portion 60 is not energized, and hence this portion 60 does not cause short-circuiting upon passage of the train for a turnout.

Beneath the plate |0 is a spiral coil spring 65 having its central portion guided by the bridge I3 and having its ends extended upwardly through holes 61 in the plates I0, I6 and insulation I5, with the upper terminals turned toward one another and engaged in the parts 30, 40. This illustrated engagement is at the frog side of the axis, so that the eiect of the spring is to cause the switch point ends of rail portions 31, 45 to move into engagement with the rails 2 I, 20.

A slot I0 in base plate I0 underlies a wider slot 'Il in the insulated plate |6 and the sheet |5. A switch link 'I2 has an upturned end 'i3 positioned between the parts 30, 40. The other end 'I4 of the link is secured to the switch actuating slide 75. The washer 'I6 nts the end I3 and holds it above the plate |0.

The switch actuator and lock acts upon the switch link 14. In the illustrated form, the parts are within a housing B0 having the three electric switch levers 8|, 82, 83 on its top, and a slot 84 through which extends the actuator 85 for manually actuating the switch. The housing is positioned on the plate I0, and the latter is dimensioned and arranged so that the housing is cleared by a passing train. The illustrated form of plate I0 permits additional like switch units to be connected at the ends of the tracks formed by the rail stubs, with clearance between the switch parts themselves, and clearance by the trains.

With the illustrated parts, the switch can be moved selectively to any of its three positionsA either by mechanical movement of the actuator by hand, or by electric means.

Within this housing 80 is mounted for sliding movement the slider 'I5 which has a slot 86 in its top (Figs. 10 and l1) into which the lower end of actuator 85 extends. The slider has a lateral extension 8l having a hole 88 in which loosely nts the unlocking lever 89, and also having the down-turned skirt with the locking lug 9| which cooperates with the locking piece 92 fastened to the top of the plate I0, and having end notches 93.

The coupling rocker 94 is pivoted adjacent its lower end to a ange 95 turned up from the plate I0 and to the piece 92. Its sides have ve openings 96 each, the center opening of each set being covered by a green light-lter, and the two end openings of each being covered by a red light-lter: these openings being selectively revealed in three openings 91 in each side of the housing 80 as the rocker is in one of its end positions or in its center position. The actuator 85 ts closely in a hole in the rocker: while the unlocking lever 89 is received in a slot 99.

For electrical actuation, a tube |00 supports three axially spaced coils |0|, |02, |03 and guides the iron solenoid core |05 which is rigidly connected by threaded brass rod |06 to the actuator 85: the core can be adjusted along the rod so that when the core is drawn within the central energized coil |02, the actuator is in a predetermined corresponding position. Electrically, one terminal of each coil is connected to ground, that is, to the plate |0. The other terminal of each coil is connected to a selected one of the switches 8|, 82, B3, and thence by conductor |94 to the insulated plate I6. When remote control is desired, the conductors |08, |09, ||0 can be carried to a panel having switches la, 82a, 83a, and thence by a conductor |04a to the general conductor which leads to the central third rail,

i' in the illustrated form.

The-unlocking-Iever- 89ii's connectedat-fits'llower end; below thesextension 81', to a slidngf'lii'ter having'curls at: itsendsand operating`- against steam-@piece I I6.` 'Il-'iisf-carn-` I |6 isfiXed1to-plate |`=and has a atftop'shorterhthan the span-between the curled ends oflthel lifter ||5=, and having sloping end surfacesfshowm as" convex curves; leading from theflat top, (Figa- I2I4)`=. When lifter -is` 4in the' end positions i of@ Figs. 13 and 14, tne extension 81 is lowered, and* the locking lugv 9| engages oneA of the notches 93; while-iin the centered' position-of lifter'fl I5 t (Figi- 129 the-- extension B'I-f is raised; sothattheilug clear of the locking piece-92.

Anelectric lamp -bulb- |50-Y isf supported* from theeplate I l)v and within` the rocker 94f= i orillumi#y mating-the lters` 96=opposite-the holes91'. This bulb may'beiconnected electrically asshown in Fig; 1041 The operations of operating and locking the trac-k? switch are as follows:

ItI will "be assu-med that they` mechanical -parts are in position for passageof a trainfalong the central set of rails. That is, the parts 30, 40 havethe switch pointsl31, 45 'engagedwith rails 2|; 20,1 and 'they switch points 38,` 41 correspondingly withdrawntoward the centeryasshown in Figs 1. theaction ofthe spiral spring 65 upontheparts 30;.40; and byA the-1 engagementY ofthezend curls.

offthelifter |I5'Lwith the ends-oifcam'piece IIG IT-he:Y actuator 85' is f nearthecenter of slot'- 84.,A and the rockerk 94 is in central position. Theffrod |09 positions core |95V within coil* |02.i The openings 9.6iand their -ltersf cause reel-greenred to show4 at thev housing` openings 91'; thus indicating that central 1passage i'sready.

If? it istl desired to,` effect :turnoutv toward thev right, the. actuator. 85` is moved towardithef-right in1slot84y (Figs. 1 and 10), eitherby handon by closingfaswitch 83or 83a so that thecorrespondf ing coil |03 is energized to draw the-corev |05 toward. the; right. During they first part of the movementv of the'actuator` 85, it movesffreelysi'n the*v slot 8810i the slider S and does-'not` move the trackA switch link 12: but"at1its.upper' end?, it causes af positive movementY of4 the unlocking rocker94 .clockwise in Fig. 10. This phase of `free movement of the rocker 94.` continuesessentially until the end wall oiv itsslotr 99 engages-the 'upper end of the unlockinglever 89; shortlyb'efore vwhich eventi-the actuator 85 also comesztofthe end of theislot 86 `in the-slider `|5`a-nd moves` this :slider and. its; extension: 8.1v towardi4 the right.y Thereafter;v` forv ashort transita the uppen and-i lower ends; ofy the. unlocking* lever 89S- are' both=being pushed toward the4 right'mig. 12)?1 atfthe; same linear rate. The rightehand endf ofthe lifter "I I5 passesi down the right-hand end slopeofl cam piece.z I I6, from the position of Fig. 12`toward that of; Fig-.114, withza 1 relative clockwise; rocking: and downward movement of the lever 89- towardthe position ofiFig. 14;.'durngfrwhichrocking offthe lever; 891V itsfupper; end moves: iny thaslot V9.9at1a` rate greater than the movementiofthe-rocker-94: The: continued movement ofthe extensionY 8.1' is thus; without resistance.,- by the lockingrflever" 89 and'brings,:thexlcking lug` 9 I :past theV endiot: the locking-piece 92l whereupon' thelweighteofzthe slider.' 1.5V and;` extension 8,11 causes the lug' 9| to drop,.into.the Aend notchv 93 becausethe only-vprol vailingsupportr. for thisv weight is then ati` the engagement.. of the slider 'I5 on. the n flange-f- 95;l The: switch link.y 12:y ist` moved' with thei slider.-`` to change the switch points. Ittwillrbeffnoted that The parts are held in this positionl bytit) d the-actuatorthelink 12,1 andthe-lugfil are spacedifromone-another inaidirection transverse tothe sliderfmovement; soY `that aS minor springing or bending is producedthe-flink 12''in2a horizontal plane i and of the actuator `iliwherehy to assurer thatfthe lug-19 I 'will 'engage Aits lnotch `93 and that any lcosenessl at the switch points is taken up. The end "'1'3' 'of fthelinkf pushes part 40 inca clockwise direction ab'out'the pivot axis- 29, therebywithdrawing switch pointy fromrail 20'-and;movingswitch point 41 into engagement With'the rail'portion 31' of part"30: simultaneously the part 40 also moves rail portion46fun-til it is alined with rail stub 22, and moves third rail portion out ofcontact with the lenergizing Aconnectorfspringcarm 6|; Thisfis done"A against; the acctionvof-'spira'l spring65. The openings 96 show red'-red'-green* throughthe housing 80, indi# catingthattherightehand turnout'is set; The lug il'I'fengages-they notch 93; andihol'ds4 thetrack partsr against vreturn movement when the supply of" energyto the actuator: by'hand or-l bythe selected coil |03 ceases.l

IfI itisinow desired toreset the track switch forfcentral passage'the `actuator 85 is pushed backs toward-the center, either'manua'lly orby closing switch 82v or switch 82a. The rocker 94'is immediately moved; but the actuator 85'has-an initial free movement-'in the slot 86 of'slider 15': the rockerfmoves lever 89 so that the* left end lof the-liften I I5 pivotsonthe cam piece I I6 and raises the extension 81 and releasesthelug9| from its vlocking'notch93- The action of spring 651and-of theactuatornow moves thev part 40 ba'ck'again; until Switchpoint 45 engages rail 20 and Switchpoint-41 is clear; and the vrail portion 45`also`passes to alinementwith the stub 24 and contact rail 6|)v encounters spring arm 6| and becomes energized. The coil |02 has been movingfthe core |05toward`the left, thus activating the actuator andthe yrocker 94 initially; and the combined action ofthe spring 85 and the core |05 cause the resetting of the switch points together with a movement of the slider v15' so that the lever- 99 isvcarriedtoftheposition of Fig'. 12.v

The rockerA openings 96' show red-green-red again.

If'it vlne-desired to prepare aloft-hand turnout, the actuator 85 is moved to its left-hand limiting position either manually or by closing switches 8| or fla'to' energizecoil |0'|.` If the actionfis initiatedv from` the righthand turn-out condition, theinitialaction is'as-described abovefor return to --central`passages; butthe continued movementof the actuator y85 moves the lifter I5 from theposition-ofFig. 14 into thatrofFig. 13. If the action isfinitiatedrom central passages, the lifterp I I5 passes from the position of Fig; 12 `to tha-tof Fig; 131` In either event; as the actuator 85'passes its central position, the# rocker 94and levervw 89T travel with it, and the slider 15 land link"v I2`areA` moved towardthe left .until the lug 9| drops into. its other endlocking notch 93. Meanwhilethepart 40 remains in position with its switch-.point 45engaged with rail 20, but part 30 -is Arocked' counter-clockwise about the Vaxis 29 until'ithel switch point 31 iswithdrawn from. rail 21| and switch point 38 iswbrought to contact with rail portion 45; At! the Sametime, the rail,por' tion 39 moved into alinementv with the frog bali-25 in-extensionof rail "stubf 23, and'with the rail'portion- 46 on the part 40, it being4 noted thatthaswitch point; l3 8 is falso then alined'i with rail'-portionf-y 46/-\and148.= The: movement offthel connector .spring separatestitssarms 61|, 62:11pm.

the third rail portions 60, 58, so that 60 is deenergized. The holes 96 of the rocker show green-red-red through the housing 80, indicating a turnout to the left.4

Return from left-hand turnout is similar to that from right-hand turnout. The locking lug 9| is lifted by the action of lever 89 and lifter I I5, and the slider is thus released.

While one preferred form has been illustrated by way of detailed practice, it is obviousv that the invention is not limited thereto, but many forms may be employed within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A track switch for selective passage to a right, a central and a left track, comprising rails which provide said tracks and have been cut away between the switch point positions and the frog positions, a Ipair of rockable parts pivoted intermediate the switch point and frog positions, one said rockable part having rigidly xed thereto switch points for the left and central tracks, the other said rockable part having xed thereto switch points for the right and central tracks, each rockable part having rigidly fixed thereto rail portions extending from the switch points and constructed and arranged to cooperate in selected positions of the rockable parts to procure the selected passage, and means eiective to selectively move the rockable parts to and hold each of them in one of two individual positions.

2. A track switch comprising a base, rails and rail stubs on said base for providing for selective passage to a right, a central and a left track, two rockable parts pivotally mounted on said base, and individually movable between end positions, one said rockable part having rigidly fixed thereto switch points for the left and the central track, the other said rockable part having rigidly fixed thereto switch points for the right and the central track, means effective to normally move the rockable parts oppositely whereby the central passage is selected, and means effective for selectively moving one of said rockable parts of its other end position whereby to procure passage to the right or the left track, said rockable parts having rail portions thereon to complete the rail transit from the switch points to the selected track.

3. A track switch as in claim 2, in which the rockable parts are mounted on a common pivot axis and comprise web portions lying in the same limited length, an actuator slidable along said slot, a rocker constructed and arranged to move with said actuator, a xed piece having a locking notch, said slider having a lug engageable with said notch, and means moved by said rocker for shifting said slider preliminary to sliding movement thereof whereby tov release the lug from the notch, and a link connected to said slider and to said rockable part to move the said rockable part.

6. A track switch for selective passage to a right, a central and a left track, comprising a base, outer rails on said base, a pair of rockable parts pivoted on said base at a common upright axis between the switch point portions and the frog positions, switch points and rail portions connected to one rockable part for the left and central tracks, switch points and rail portions to the other rockable part for the right and central track, track connections including frogs on said base effective for providing continuity of said tracks from the rockable parts, and means for selectively moving said rockable parts.

'7. A track switch for selective passage to a right, a central and a left track, comprising a base, outer rails on said base, two rockable parts pivoted on said base at a common upright axis, rail portions and switch points for the left and central tracks connected to one said rockable part, rail portions and switch points for the right and central tracks #connected to the other said rockable part, the rail portions on one said rockable part being formed with a rst frog for the right and left tracks, a second frog on the base for the central and left tracks, a third frog on the base for the central and right tracks, said rockable parts in each end position providing continuity of passage for :car wheels over switch points and rail portions and one or the other of said second and third frogs, and means for moving each rockable part from one end position to the other.

8. A track switch for selective passage to a right, a central and a left track, comprising a base, outer rails on said base, two rockable parts pivoted on said base intermediatefrog and switch point positions, said rockable parts having upto one another and to the base, said portions be-y ing located between the path of car wheel flanges, and rail and switch point portions secured to said web portions and extending upward therefrom.

4. A track switch as in claim 2, for a central third rail electric railway, in which a third rail section extends between the right and he left switch points of said rockable parts, one said rockable part being cut away opposite the said third rail section, the other rockable part hav- ;ing a web extending between its switch points .at a level between the third rail section and the base, said web having an aperture, and a support Jconnected to the base and the third rail section .and passing through said aperture.

5. A track switch comprising rails and rail `:stubs and a rockable part effective for selecting a ,direction of passage and having switch points ithereon, and means effective to move said rock- -able part and hold the same in moved position; :said means including aslider having a slotl of wardly extending rail portions providing elements of the right, central and left tracks, a first frog on a rockable part formed by the rail portions thereof for the right and left tracks, switch points on one said rockable part for the left and central tracks, switch points on the other said rockable part for the right and central tracks, a second frog on the base for the central and left tracks, the said one rockable part in its end positions presenting rail portions selectively aligned with said second frog for car wheel transit to the central or left tracks, a third frog on the base for the central and right tracks, the said other rockablepart in its end positions presenting rail portions selectively aligned with said third frog forv car wheel transit to the central or right tracks, and means for moving the rockable parts to said selective positions.

9. A track switch for selective passage to a central and to right and left side tracks, comprising a base, outer rails on said base, two rockable parts pivoted on said base, one rockable part including a central track rail portion and switch point at one side of its axis, a left track switch point at the other side of its axis, and a left track rail portion rearward of said axis, the other rockable part including a central track rail portion and switch Vpoint at one side of its axis, a

right vtrac'lg;switch point at the other side of its aiis,lan'dfav right traclIraii ofrtion rearward of saidqaisflltwo frogs oii' the iase positioned for selective.; cooperation with said rail portions in the endpositions of nj'ovement of the rockabie parts, one said rockablif part also having thereon frog connected with jthe side track rail portion vthereon and also having a further rail portion connected with said frog for selective alignment with :the rearward railf'portion on the other rock- Vable part, and means Vfor selectively moving said rockable parts. l I

. 10. A; track switch comprising a, base, rails and ,rail stubs on said base for providing for selec?v .tive passage to a right, a central and a lief-t .15 fff'vjtraickjtwo rockable prts pivotally mounted at 1 fa common upright axis on said base and indi Hd- A3:-uallyfifiOva'bie between en'd positions, one Said f'rockabie part having'jfswitgh points for the lieft and central tracks, ti'ie other said rockable part REFERENCES CITED c' The following references are of record in the l0 `file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 219,288 Middleton Sept. 2, 1879 384,304 Bailey June 12, 1888 651,112 Gorn Q--- June 5, 1900 755,495 Houghton Mar. 22, 1904 1,291,084 Mullens Jan. 14, 1919 1,783,069 Becker Nov. 25, 1930 20'- 1,870,526 Ottenstein Aug. 9, 1932 2,214,310 Schrefer Sept. 10, 1940 2,297,131 Bonanno Sept. 29, 1942 2,375,890 Black May 15, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 425,149 England Mar. 7, 1935 

